These summer camps bring the wow
This story was originally published on unc.edu.
Oooohs from kids crouching eye-to-eye with a praying mantis or studying salamanders in a creek.
Aaaahs of children holding a space rock or trying to land a fragile glass ornament on a Mars-like surface.
Whumps of cleats pounding soccer balls and whacks of lacrosse sticks battling.
These are only a few sounds from the 98 summer camps and programs that Carolina offers for ages K-12. Here’s a look at several of them.
Media and journalism
The Hussman School of Journalism and Media hosts three summer workshops.
The North Carolina Scholastic Media Institute, a three-day residential program for journalism students who are rising ninth graders through rising seniors and their teachers, features instruction in photojournalism, design, yearbook, broadcast news and digital media. Students produce a newscast and an online news site.
For the Chuck Stone Program, 12 rising high school seniors are selected to learn about journalism and media careers through classroom study, reporting and professional mentors. Using multi-platform storytelling and writing, students create a multimedia publication. The program is named after the late Charles “Chuck” Stone, a professor and journalist.
In the Carolina Sports Journalism Camp, rising high school juniors and seniors immerse themselves in sports play-by-play, sports writing and sports videography.
Camp Flytrap
Camp Flytrap at the North Carolina Botanical Garden is for kids ages 4-11. They explore the wonders of North Carolina plants, animals and habitats through hikes, games, stories, arts and crafts and more. Camps feature small groups, experienced educators and naturalists, plus loads of fun.
Ten weekly camps focus on a specific age range and theme:
- Sensing Nature, ages 4-5. Use your senses to watch for frogs, listen for birdsong, smell flowers, touch slimy worms and taste from the garden.
- Things with Wings, ages 6-7. Learn about native birds, bats, bugs and even seeds that fly while searching the gardens, forest and ponds for nature’s winged wonders.
- The Secret Lives of Bugs, ages 8-10. Discover the weird and wonderful world of bugs and the important role they play in nature.
- Eco-Art, 8-11 years. Explore the outdoors while making art inspired by the natural world.
Summer Science Camps
Summer Science Camps at Morehead Planetarium and Science Center are designed for K-8th-grade students. With a theme of “Interstellar Adventures,” each weeklong camp features STEM topics. Participants learn about the world around them through hands-on activities and shows inside the planetarium’s full-dome theater. Camps encourage curiosity and intellectual growth in a fun, nurturing environment.
Summer Youth Conservatory
In 2026, PlayMakers Repertory Company celebrates 20 years of its Summer Youth Conservatory with immersive theatre training experiences for middle and high school students.
Theatre Quest introduces students to acting, movement, comedy improv, musical theatre and other performance skills in a creative, supportive environment.
The six-week Theatre Intensive and Theatre Tech programs provide professional training on stage and behind the scenes. This year’s participants will work alongside professional artists to create a full-scale production of “Hello, Dolly!,” rehearsing, designing, building and producing the show through the same professional process that PlayMakers uses.
Tar Heel sports camps
Coaches of Carolina varsity athletic teams host more than 20 summer camps for youth athletes. The camps range from baseball to gymnastics to soccer to volleyball and many others. Team staff members run camps and, in some cases, current and former student-athletes are counselors. Camps are held on campus and are designed for a range of ages and skill levels, from beginner youth to competitive high school athletes.
Search www.unc.edu for other summer camps and research and internship opportunities.